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Next Meeting: EACC live event: Saturday 31 May at City Chambers 09.30 to 13.30: Agenda later. 

Scroll down for Current Events, Consultations and References:  

19 Mar: Online Safety Act and CC Social Media Engagement: Community council hosting of a social media page, where there is reciprocal, interactive exchange of posts and comment, looks as though it may now (as of 16 March) incur obligations (guided by Ofcom) in respect of on-going monitoring, risk assessment and record-keeping. You can make a preliminary assessment here: Check if the Online Safety Act applies to you - Ofcom . I have asked for guidance from CEC Governance and from Scottish Community Councils at the Improvement Service. You may wish to take an interim stance on this matter. 

19 Mar: Leith Central CC: Student Accommodation: Leith Central CC is working on a paper detailing concerns about the impact of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Developments in North-Central Edinburgh. (The latest copy of the paper is attached here.) This issue has wide relevance and it is the subject of the current CEC Planning Consultation on Student Accommodation Non-Statutory Planning Guidance which is open until 23 May 2025. (See 2025 – Planning Edinburgh ) 

You are invited by Charlotte Encombe (Chair, Leith Central CC) to consider the working paper and to add your thoughts and contributions by 18 May. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  You'll find a copy of the paper in EACC Papers >>> Planning on the menu bar above.

18 Mar: Reference: Transition to new Community Councils: A statement from the EACC Members Board to community councillors set to take up their place on 28 March: the setting you will enter; the balance you will need; the importance of keeping in place the 'civic triangle. Go to 'Resources' in the menu table above.

11 Mar: Event: Induction for Community Councillors: 26 April: The first stage of the election process has completed (although there is at least one report of misplaced elected member nomination papers). The EACC Members Board attention fixed on the 'live induction event' proposed by Governance for 26 April, for two representatives per community council, with screen events to follow for others on 28 and 29 April.

We've written to Governance to say a single live networking event is wholly inadequate as a 'start of term booster' for community councillors, existing and new. With community councils in need of a strong networking relaunch, we've asked for two additional live induction meetings to be accommodated. The request has been copied to Cllr. Val Walker, Convener of the Culture & Communities Committee, to Gavin King, CEC Head of Democracy, Governance and Resilience and to Andrew Field, CEC Head of Community Empowerment and Engagement. You'll find a copy of the email dated 7 March in the site menu item 'Resources' above. You may wish to follow it up through your own channels. 

11 Mar: Reference: EACC Mailing List: With community councils now in transition, I want to make sure that you come off this EACC mailing list if you so wish but that you are not dropped off in error. I will look to pick up the new office bearer listings in due course. At this stage, however, if you want me to remove your name from further distribution of EACC material, contact me to let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

11 Mar: Consultation: Firework Control Zones: CEC is inviting community groups to nominate neighbourhoods they would wish to be deemed as firework control zones in November 2025. See http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/firework-control-zones.

11 Mar: Consultation: Edinburgh Local Housing Strategy: CEC's Senior Housing Development Officer, Robyn Barrie, advises the opening of an 8-week consultation on Edinburgh's Draft Local Housing Strategy, on its way to further review and completion in May 2025. The strategy covers the future delivery of all tenures and types of housing and is clearly fundamental in the city's proposed expansion. You can find out more at: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/lhs-phase-3

11 Mar: Event: Planning Democracy Workshop: 28 April: Planning Democracy has just launched what looks to be a pivotal programme to 'Help ... transform Scotland's Planning System.' This 'will shape our work for the next 5 years', with the organisation at a 'critical point in our journey'. An initial online workshop takes place on Monday 28 April at 6.30pm. See: https://www.planningdemocracy.org.uk/2025/transform-planning/.

11 Mar: Event: Mackay Hannah Webinars: The Scottish Community Councils team (Brian Davey, Emma Swift) is profiling half-day conferences promoted by Mackay Hannah (conference and webinar organisers) on 'Public Services Crisis (13 Mar); Scottish Transport Annual Conference (18 Mar); Scottish Climate - what's the plan? (29 Apr). To find out more, contact Gail Hannah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A discount code (CC100) is made available.

5 Mar: Community Grants Fund (CGF) 2025/26: Deadline 20 April 2025: Right in the middle of community council transition, CEC's Community Empowerment and Engagement team opens the CGF to new funding applications for 'grants of up to £5000 for projects that benefit local communities'. The application must come from a constituted group for a community-based activity. Here is a link to the grant application form, with a deadline of 30 April  https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund . Online information sessons are planned for 19 March (10.00 to 11.00 and 18.00 to 19.00) and 20 March (15.00 to 16.00 and 17.00 to 18.00). Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to book a place or to table any questions.

5 Mar: Community Councils Election Update at close 4 March: 37 CCs have a quorate number of Elected Member nominations and 2 (Trinity CC and Cramond, Barnton Cammo CC) go to a poll with a surplus of nominatons. A second call (31 Mar to 21 Apr) for sufficient nominations to become quorate goes out in 8 areas: Craigmillar; Davidsons Mains & Silverknowes; Firrhill; Hutchison / Chesser; Muirhouse / Salvesen; Old Town; Portobello; West Pilton / West Granton. From Governance: "A formal declaration of results is being prepared and will be published on the Council's website in due course (we will let you know when this is available)."

5 Mar: Event: Edinburgh Science Festival: Wednesday 9 April: A focus on Clean Energy Communities and the potential of Heat Networks, led by Vital Energi and the Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum. Chaired by environmental scientist Laura Young at the Natonal Museum of Scotland. Go to https://www.edinburghscience.co.uk/ for detail and booking.

5 Mar: Event: Edinburgh World Heritage: Tuesday 25 March: A free information session on Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings in Edinburgh and on the Edinburgh World Heritage Climate Emergency Grant programme. See this link for detail and booking: https://ewh.org.uk/energy-retrofit-of-traditional-buildings-in-edinburgh/

21 Feb: Event: EACC Meeting with CEC Planning 20 Feb: Focus on the current Planning Guidance Consultaton; closing date on 3 April. Featured David Givan, Chief Planning Officer, and colleagues Lynne McMenemy (City Plan 2030); Julie Dewar (Edinburgh Design Guidance); James Allanson (Guidance for Householders); Blair Burnett (Listed Building and Conservation Area Guidance*) and Lindsey Robertson (Student Accommodation Guidance - consultation pending). See this CEC Consulation Hub link for consultation documents: Find activities - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space. *Refer also to the tandem Edinburgh University School of Architecture Project 'Giving Voice to Historic Property Owners' on this link: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8DgohglwsGvTwkC . Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025 for the full slide presentation pack.

18 Feb: Reference: Net Zero to Marchmont: Douglas Rogers of Marchmont & Sciennes Community Council continues to build his project to map the delivery of Net Zero to Marchmont tenements and flats. This is a very ambitious endeavour; it's pathbreaking. Douglas is working largely on his own, scoping the engineering challenges, looking at the legislative backdrop in the Scottish Parliament; beginning to set out the sheer practicalities. Understandably, he'd really like some help here. You could swap notes from your own experience; help with some research; do some legwork. You might know someone else who is interested. Even if you just want to find out a little more, email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He is planning a first public meeting in the next couple of months. He really merits support. There are more questions than answers at this stage, but that's the nature of ambitious projects. See his past work in EACC Papers >>> Planning >>> 2023 Nov Energy Conservation Housing Rogers MSCC Deputation and 2023 Aug Insulating Homes in Conservation Zone Rogers MSCC.

14 Feb: Reference: Scottish Civic Trust: The Scottish Civic Trust is promoting its national My Place Awards which celebrate excellence in community-led placemaking in Scotland. There are two award categories: 1] Community-led projects, recognising transformational work on local buildings, street space or green space; 2] Community Champions, recognising individual leaders of local change. The closing date for entries is 30 April 2025. For more information, contact Erin Burke, Scottish Civic Trust communications Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it."

13 Feb: Reference: The Edinburgh Reporter: Multimedia Content: I've been in recent correspondence with the Editor at the Edinburgh Reporter (ER) newspaper, Phyllis Stephen. She has issued an open invitation to community councils to contact her with anything and everything you feel is of relevance right now to your neighbourhood, community and city lfe. Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Online every day; print each month; multimedia channels* on video, audio, Facebook, Instagram and X - "Literally, just ask" how she can use your community council story; as did Alan Gordon, Secretary at Longstone CC. He has recently recorded several interviews with Ms Stephen (carried on ER Spotify links) talking about local potholes, 'Junior Parkrun in the SW', the community council elections and the successful push for the 'Longstone Link' new bridge connecton to Hutchison / Chesser. This is a '"an engaging experience, .. a good format which we could ... share and use to promote our own community council activities and encourage people to come forward" in participation. Listen to an extract: https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/02/community-council-elections-longstone-cc-are-building-bridges/ . *Then think about how much extra reach and relevance this gives you.

11 Feb: Reference: ECCAN Community Heat Group: Clean Heat Edinburgh Forum (CHEF), a community-led initiative working on the transition to zero carbon heating in the city (which presented to EACC in June 2024), has announcd its partner role in the setup of the ECCAN Community Heat Group (CHG), working alongside Eala and EdinBRIC. The CHG objective is to help communities to create Community Heat Plans. See this Google Docs pack for background and for details of the CHG programme. 

11 Feb: Event: Training Webinars on Local Place Plans: The Scottish Community Councils Project (hosted at the Improvement Service) is making available a free six-part programme on how to scope, manage, prepare and project a Local Place Plan. This kind of exercise will be a feature of the emerging City Plan 2040 programme. The dates of the 1-hour sessions are February 12, 19, 26 and March 5, 12, 19. to find out more got to: https://www.communitycouncils.scot/events .

11 Feb: Reference: CEC Promotion of Elections: On 6 Feb, CEC Governance gave a summary of its community council election promotional work. This includes: lamppost wraps in high footfall locations; poster and flyer distribution to community councils, libraries and community centres; posts to CEC intranet and external partner noticeboards; posts to Linkedin and nextdoor.co.uk; a press release to local news agencies. A campaign digital toolkit has been distributed to community councils for download . Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a repeat. For full background on the elections, for nomination forms and for other support, go to: Community Councils – The City of Edinburgh Council .

31 Jan: Event: EACC 30 Jan Meeting with the Improvement Service Scottish Community Councils Project Team: Report on file. Go to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2025.

30 Jan: Planning Committee: Student Accommodation: The papers for the 29 January CEC Planning Committee meeting carry proposals for a Student Accommodation Consultation to follow approval of the drafting of non-statutory planning  guidance for Student Accommodation. The 12-week consultation and public engagement would commence in February. Here is the link to the Planning Committee Papers.

30 Jan: Leith Central CC: Student Accommodation: Charlotte Encombe, Chair at Leith Central CC, has issued a draft paper arguing against further expansion of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Leith. She asks it be passed on to EACC members. The paper has otherwise been issued to local Councillors, MSP and neighbouring community councils. It is intended to form the platform against further PBSA expansion in the locality. This is a hot topic; it cuts right into many communities. Your community council is invited to respond to offer your comments and suggestions on how to take forward the argument against forceful PBSA expansion. You will find the paper in EACC Papers >>> Planning on the menu bar above. Please give it your attention and reply to Charlotte Encombe at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

30 Jan: City Plan 2030: Design Guidance: With City Plan 2030 now adopted (Nov 2024), attention turns to updating and revising the guidelines that should shape the build of the city's 'place and space', the physical dimension of life in every community. There are three elements: Placemaking in new developments / Listed buildings and conservation areas / Guidance for householders. Public consultaion is now underway, with a closing date of 3 April:  https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/planning-design-guidance/.  The CEC Planning Team will present to EACC on Design Guidance at the 20 February meeting.

30 Jan: Historic Property Owners: Edinburgh University: Dr Victoria Lee, of Edinburgh University School of Architecture, has issued an invitation directly to community council members to participate in a Stakeholder Advisory Panel sitting within her ‘Giving Voice to Historic Property Owners’ project. The project will advise on revisions to CEC Planning’s Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas planning guidance, specifically to make ‘the guidance more practical and accessible for historic homeowners’. The Panel will meet three times (online, in late February, Q2 and Q3). Find out more detail on the project here: Expression of Interest. Ask questions or apply to take part at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

21 Jan: Reference: Cockburn Association October 2024 Responsible Tourism Event: Find the report on this link: https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/openedinburgh/conference-report-responsible-tourism/

21 Jan: Reference: CC Elections and Nominations: Notice of election should be published, along with nomination papers for Elected Members, on 5 February. Nominations close on 27 February. Elections for membeship, where required, will take place on 27 March. New community councils form on 28 March. See more detail on the Governance webpages at  http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitycouncils (Section 3). Note the nomination requirements from the Scheme for Community Councils, Section 6.11: Individuals seeking election to a community council should be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be on the electoral register for the community council area. Each elector may propose one nominee and second one nominee. Nominations require to be submitted with the candidate's consent. Self-nomination is not permitted.

Nominated Representative Members from local interest groups (resident, amenity charity, voluntary) are an important part of a well-functioning community council. They are appointed by the Council (via the Returning Officer) upon registration of the local interest group with the Council. See Schedule 2 to the Scheme for Community Councils. Registration is required ahead of this election by 27 February. Selection to the community council may be by ballot under the aegis of the Returning Officer. Make sure local interest groups in your area know the score.

21 Jan: Event: Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy: Two drop-in sessions coming up: Wednesday 29 January, 3pm to 7pm at Waverley Station concourse; Monday 3 February, 1pm to 5pm at the City Arts Centre, 2 Market Streer, EH1 1DE. 

21 Jan: Consultation: CEC Planning Dept: City Plan 2030: Revisions to Guidance Documents: Three new versions of Planning Guidance are in course of preparation, covering Edinburgh Design Guidance; Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Guidance; and Guidance for Householders. CEC Planning and Building Standards are hosting Stakeholder Workshops on 29 January (10.00 - 12.00) and 13 March (14.00 to 16.00). There is an online session planned for late February / March. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 23 January to attend the workshops and by 27 January to book an online place. Alternatively, book to attend a CEC Planning event at Edinburgh Architectural Association, 15 Rutland Square, on 28 January at 17.30 (see https://eaa.org.uk/events).

21 Jan: Invitation: The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland (AMCS) Peace Symposium: 9 Feb: Dr Abdul Hayee, Regional President of the AMCS invites community council members to attend the 2025 Peace Symposium, to be held at Edinburgh Academy Senior School, 42 Henderson Row, EH3 5BL (16.00 to 18.30). The theme is 'The Critical Need for Peace'. Register online at https://amcscotland.eventcube.io/, or confirm attendance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Find out more at http://www.loveforallhatredfornone.org/. 

15 Jan 2025: CEC Promotion of Community Council Elections, Phase 2: CEC Governance will shortly issue a further Campaign toolkit. A4 promotional posters and A5 flyers are in course of distribution to community councils, where requested. Additional copies can be ordered by contacting Governance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Governance programme of drop-in 'awareness events' continues; here is the current programme: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-councils/5 . Contact Governance to add your own event to the diary. Nomination Forms for election candidates should be available by the time nominations open on 5 February (for a 27 February close). Finally, check your community council's array of contact details held in the CEC directory https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/10208/a-to-z . Contact Governance with any updates.

24 Dec: Reference: The Edinburgh Partnership (EP): This is the EP is the community planning partnership for the city, bringing together a wide array of public agencies, third and private sectors to focus on local community planning and the improvement of community life and services for the people who live and work in the city. The current Local Community Planning Partnerships (LCPP) and Neighbourhood Networks (NN) framework is under close review. When completed (H2 2025), we might expect community councils to be invited to play a bigger part in their community planning role. That's something to consider in thinking about the shape of your community council in the next term.

24 Dec: Reference: Volunteer Edinburgh: Volunteer Edinburgh's purpose is to strengthen community connections and networks and thereby reduce inequalities through different models of volunteer recruitment and engagement. CEC has profiled Volunteer Edinburgh as a possible partner in the work done by community councils and as a contact point in promoting the forthcoming elections. https://www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/ .

24 Dec: Reference: RAMPS Edinburgh recommissioned: RAMPS is the tracking tool for planning applications across Scotland, by Local Authority and by Community Council. RAMPS Edinburgh is now onstream, allowing you to track planning applications, their status and changes as they are processed by the Council. Go to: https://planningramps.uk/signin .

11 Dec: Reference: Queensferry & District CC (QDCC) Promotion: Take a look at the smooth A4 promotional text front-running the community council elections; highlighting the importance of community 'representation', the scope of work done by QDCC and the responsibilities placed on members. This piece backed-up a Governance-led promotional event in South Queensferry on 9 December, with QDCC members and elected councillors in attendance. The file is carried as QDCC Election Promotion A4 Sheet within EACC Papers >>> Community Council Support. 

10 Dec: Reference: Edinburgh Development Forum (EDF): From today's quarterly meeting: City Plan 2030 opens the way to early work on City Plan 2040. Get an update on the Edinburgh Local Heating and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) - ambitious, exciting, costly, disruptive. Get an update on the City Mobility Plan - equally ambitious, costly and divisive. Don't forget to add your views on the Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy - 'revitalise and conserve' is the central message. Much depends on Network Rail. The consultation closes on 21 February 2025. Download the EDF document (Rpt 24_12_10) from EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2024. 

6 Dec: Reference: CEC Workstream Support for CCs: Principle support themes are: Promotion of CCs / CC comms and engagement / Hybrid meetings / Equality, inclusion, diversity and accessibility / Related specific training needs. The programme is underway and will build through H1 2025. See this link to the report to the Culture & Communities Committee, 5 December 2024 (Page 214). 

6 Dec: Reference: Edinburgh Partnership: Culture and Communities Committee: 5 December 2024: The Edinburgh Partnership, the statutory body for community planning in the city, publishes a Local Outcome Improvement Plan Annual Report. The latest report, approved by the Board in September 2024, sets out the progress across the three priorities: alleviating poverty; providing access to work, learning and training; enhancing quality of life in the city.

"Whilst there is evidence of progress, the Edinburgh Partnership acknowledges that more needs to be done. Consequently, it is undergoing a Transformation and Improvement Programme to shape what it does and how it works in the coming years. This means some structural change but more importantly improvements to how it functions to ensure it can address the key challenges for the city. This will include the development of a new Local Outcome Improvement Plan bringing together into one plan the work of the whole partnership, with poverty prevention, just transition and health and wellbeing at its heart. A report on this work will be presented to (the Culture and Communities) Committee in the new year."

6 Dec: Reference: Colinton CC Call for Funding Support: Deputation to Culture & Communities Committee on 5 December. Read the submission in EACC Papers >>> Community Council Support. 

6 Dec: Reference: November 2024 AGM: The report is now filed in EACC Papers >>>  2024 AGM Papers.

25 Nov: Article: Leith Links CC: HMO Applications: (Go to Menu >> Licensing) Teresa Perchard draws to your attention (Licensing Leads) a forthcoming 'Special' Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 29 November to consider a recent sharp rise in HMO applicatons, whereby due procedures on local notification and advertising of applications may not have been followed, in certain cases. Leith Links CC has lodged strong objections to process within its own locality. More detail carried in the Licensing file on the menu bar. (See also the 15 Nov Reference below.)

22 Nov: Article: CEC Support for Community Council Elections: (Go to Menu >> Resources) CEC's general programme of election awareness and promotion is now beginning to build. CEC Governance has offered a good deal of detail on how they can help (individual) community councils raise their local profile and deliver their own election message through print and social media. See more in the article below, on this page. Download detail by going to the menu bar and to EACC Papers >>> Community Council Support . Contact the Governance Team at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Also, take a look at the CEC Community Council site:  https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-councils .

15 Nov: Reference: Leith Links CC: Teresa Perchard has authored a further report on CEC's handling of unlicensed HMOs, changes in train and the need for better ongoing notification of HMO licence applications to community councils as 'competent objectors'. Contact Leith Links CC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , with your views or queries on the report; copy to EACC to keep us in the picture. Go to EACC Papers >>> Planning  to read the report. 

13 Nov: Reference: CEC Support for 2025 CC Elections: Go to Menu Bar, EACC Papers >> Community Council Support for detailed information on CEC facilities to help you promote your community council's election message and themes in Q1 2025.. 

10 Nov: Reference: Tree Felling on Conservation Areas: Clive Preston of Stockbridge & Inverleith CC sets out a reminder of the circumstances that see tree preservation procedures so frequently breached in practice. Go to the Menu Bar and to Planning & Place.

6 Nov: Reference: Edinburgh Visitor Levy: EACC representatives met today with CEC Project Manager, Katherine Kennedy, to offer observations on the interim shape of the pending Visitor Levy; enactment expected January 2025 with implementation in July 2026. The shape of the proposed final scheme will go the Policy & Sustainability Committee and to Full Council in January. The public consultation closes on 15 December. You can find the draft scheme in this link:  https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/15844/visitor-levy-for-edinburgh-draft-scheme . The Visitor Levy consultation document can be opened here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/visitor-levy/ . 

5 Nov: Article: CEC Promotion of Community Councils: (Go to Menu >> Resources) Following on from the 22 October meeting with CEC Governance, where we got some idea of the Governance promotion strategy for the March 2025 elections, a community councillor asked for the Governance team's take on the following questions: 1) Is there any real point or value in a CC? 2) What can a CC achieve or influence with CEC? 3) Does CEC listen and act? Scroll down to the Article below to see the response!

5 Nov: Event: Edinburgh Partnership Board (EPB): Poverty Commission Meeting: The EPB is the CEC-led forum of public sector and third sector agency service providers. There is a standing platform of work undertaken with the Edinburgh Poverty Commission (EPC, inception 2020) and End Poverty Edinburgh. This event considered the progress on the EPC Interim Review due for publication in 2025 (half-way towards the original EPC 2030 'End Poverty' target date). The 'End Poverty in Edinburgh Delivery Plan' looks set to dig deeper and community councils are likely to find themselves drawn to offer a greater involvement. I've asked that community councils be given a clear picture of any new undertakings in this delicate and detailed area well in advance of the elections. Here is the link to the Policy and Sustainability Committee Papers of 22 October carrying the End Poverty in Edinburgh Annual Report 2024.

1 Nov: Reference: Leith Links CC: Teresa Perchard (TP) note on local proliferation of unlicensed HMOs and on expansion of BT 'Street Hubs'. On the HMO issue, Leith Links CC will meet with the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee on 6 November. See the EACC Papers >>> Planning  file for the TP note. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss. 

31 Oct: Reference: The Cockburn Association: Notes and links from the 30 October conference on 'Responsible Tourism: Solutions for Edinburgh's Future'. Strong undercurrent that there needs to be visible community payback in exchange for sharing the city's heritage with visitors. Remarks from the floor included a visitor guide's 'embarassment' at the 'state' of the city and the countryside in general. Go to Menu Bar and to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2024.

28 Oct: Reference: Edinburgh Partnership Board: Update on the ongoing Transformation and Improvement Programme. Final report due to the Policy & Sustainability Committee on 10 December. Community councils may see a redefined role. Go to EACC Papers >>> Edinburgh Partnership Board.

23 Oct: Reference: Report on CEC Communal Bin Review Workshop; Go to the Menu Bar and to EACC Papers >>> Meetings 2024.

8 Oct: Reference: Cllr. Cammy Day: Letter of Support for Community Councillors: Dated, 8 October, by email, I've just received the following text from Cllr. Day, Leader of CEC:

Dear Community Councillors,
Support for Community Councils
At the last meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee, a motion was approved that I write on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council on training and accessibility of Community Councils. The following motion was agreed by our members -
'To agree that making Community Councils more accessible to elected members, community councillors and the public plays an important role in enabling a greater diversity of people to engage with local democracy.
To recognise that a lack of equipment is only one potential barrier to Community Councils running hybrid meetings, and that in some cases, training on how to use the equipment may also be required.
To request officers to provide political groups with budget estimates for providing Community Councils with hybrid meeting equipment and training on how to use it as part of the 2025/26 budget, on the basis of their engagement with Community Councils.'
Following this agreement, officers have gathered estimates for the hybrid equipment which would be approximately £1400 per community council, or £65,800 for all 47 community councils. Training on how to use the equipment will be delivered by council officers. Further progress on this work will be reported to the Culture and Communities Committee on 5 December 2024.
I hope the above demonstrates how much we value our Community Councils and the important work you do as the direct links to those living in the city. 

Yours sincerely. Councillor Cammy Day

25 Sep: Event: Cockburn Association: 30 Oct: Responsible Tourism: Solutions for Edinburgh's Future: An afternoon discussion (12.00 to 17.00) on tourism pressures; city vulnerabilities and resilience; and actionable strategies; with contributions from those in the industry, academic observes and CEC. Here is the link to book a place in person or online: https://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/event/responsible-tourism-solutions-for-edinburghs-future/ .

25 Sep: Reference: Edinburgh Bus User Group (EBUG): Call to new CEC Transport Convener, Cllr. Stephen Jenkinson: Open Letter (published in the Edinburgh Reporter) calls for renewed CEC / bus operators combined focus on getting key priorities delivered on bus stops / shelters / live timetables / interchanges / highway infrastructure. The bus station issue needs resolved 'at pace'. 

13 Aug: Reference: Planning: Following on from the EACC Guidance Notes profiled on 2 August, Ronnie Shaw of Liberton & District CC has profiled two nicely-formatted general guides to the Scottish planning system from Highland and Moray Councils. You can find them here: Highland Council Guide to the Planning System and  Moray Council Guide to the Planning System. You'll find other important planning links on the menu bar under Planning & Place.

2 Aug: Reference: Grange Prestonfield CC recently published a Guide to the City Plan 2030 and Edinburgh Design Guidance frameworks, a short primer for new community councillors (pending) and for anyone else looking to catch up. With the same in mind, I’ve added three new EACC guidance notes on planning policy, drawn directly from Scottish Government material on Community Engagement, on Development Management and on Householder Permitted Development Rights. You can find them in the EACC Papers >>> Planning link on the menu bar. You will also find in that file a new illustrated guidance booklet for homeowners on Retrofitting Historic Sash and Case Windows. This illustrative paper has been offered by Dr Victoria Lee, a Lecturer at Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture at the University of Edinburgh. She notes it has been vetted by Edinburgh World Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland and CEC for accuracy and practicality. 

2 Aug: Reference: Neighbourhood Networks and Community Grants Fund: Andrew Field, Head of CEC’s Community Empowerment and Engagement Service, is currently leading two reviews of the Neighbourhood Networks structure and the Community Grants Fund. Along with Joan Parr, CEC Service Director, Culture and Wellbeing, he is taking two reports to the Culture & Communities Committee on 8 August. Both reports are work-in-progress. Here is a link to the Culture & Committee Papers for that meeting with an outline of the background issues.

5 Jul: Reference: City Plan 2030 (CP 2030): This is now the template against which development proposals and applications in the city are measured and judged by CEC Planners. It is a 200 page-plus document of fine detail and precise wording and it is to be used alongside the equally detailed Edinburgh Design Guidance framework. Together they serve to set the standards by which Edinburgh shapes as it grows. Every community councillor - especially those who will take up their place after the next elections - should have a meaningful awareness of just what is in the two 'rule books'. Grange Prestonfield Community Council (GPCC) has just produced a really useful summary of the essential parts of both documents. This is an introduction which will put the novice on nodding terms with the mountain of detail in both documents, especially CP 2030. GPCC has generously asked to make it available to other community councils. You can find a copy by going to EACC Papers >>> Planning on the menu bar or by using this link: 2024 Jul City Plan 2030 GPCC Summary & Guide .

26 Jun: Reference: 3. Now the attention turns to City Plan 2040. Local Place Plans will be a feature; here is a link to get you started: Resources - Planning Aid Scotland (pas.org.uk). 4. Planning Edinburgh has also opened a consultation on its amended West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework and Strategic Masterplan. West Edinburgh is recognised as a major development corridor within the growing city in City Plan 2030 and it will be a central feature in the emerging City Plan 2040. This link gives you detail and access to the consultation, which runs until 1 August: West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework Amendments . 

28 May: Reference: Funding The Public Sector Built Environment: The Scotsman (27 May) carries an opinion piece from Euan Pirie, head of major projects and infrastructure at Harper Macleod, where he talks of the funding pressures facing local authority housing projects and other public sector built environment challenges in the years ahead (including retrofitting, community building and city centre regeneration). Read about the innovative funding possibilities, here in the Harper Macleod publication The Blueprint .

27 May: Consultation: George St. to Meadows Active Travel Plan: Get the consultation detail on concept design here: Have your say on Meadows to George Street improvements – The City of Edinburgh Council. Big changes are in prospect. A series of outdoor public events to meet the project team and to illustrate the proposals will take place: Thurs 30 May, 8am to 6pm at Middle Meadow Walk / Sun 9 June, 10am to 4pm at Candlemaker Row / Sat 22 June, 10am to 4pm at the Mound.

Consultation documents will be on display at the Central Library on June 4-6 and 25-27 and at the National Museum of Scotland June 7-14. Big changes are in prospect. Floating bus stops are part of the plan. Blue badge holders may find access more difficult. There will be traffic displacement from George IV Bridge and the Mound.

17 May: Event: Planning Appeals Training for Communities: A DPEA webinar on Wednesday 12 June (18.00 to 19.30) offered by the Improvement Service (IS). DPEA: Planning appeals training for communities | Community Council (communitycouncils.scot). The IS Community Councils website (amongs many other things) also profiles a series of 'Skills Support for Community Councils' courses, some provided by the Open University and some by external providers like Microsoft and Google. There is a lot of 'digital' content on offer. Worth looking at here: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/skills-supportOU-CC

30 Apr: Reference: Edinburgh - City Factsheet: Find out more on how Edinburgh ranks on key UK urban area indicators from the centre for cities site. Use the data tool.

19 Apr: Reference: Edinburgh by Numbers 2023: A fast-expanding city, drawing people and inward investment. 'Wellbeing' indicators hold up; strong employment levels in a high-skilled regional economy (led by health, finance and insurance sectors in employment numbers; finance and insurance and real estate in gross value added terms); big tourism (and hotel) rebound. See the detail here: Edinburgh by Numbers #17 . Read it in conjunction with the Edinburgh Partnership Survey Q3 2023 (https://www.edinburghpartnership.scot/downloads/file/219/ep-survey-results), which gives a better picture of what it is like to live here. 

19 Apr: Reference: City Plan 2030: Student Housing: The Report of Examination (below) considers ( as 'Issue 25') the many representations submitted in relation to City Plan 2030 policy proposals on Student Accommodation (See City Plan 2030 Page 123). Opinions submitted include on the one hand: over-provision at the expense of mainstream (affordable) housing; pressures on 'social fabric' of the 'balanced communities'; inadequate measuring / monitoring of 'demand' for student accommodation (by number of units and type), allowing too much 'speculative' development. On the other hand: there is significant under-supply of purpose-built student accommodation in the city; inclusion of mainstream housing in developments can conflict with the economics of purpose built student accommodation delivery. The Council concludes no modification in existing policy guidelines (within City Plan 2030) is merited. The Reporter shades at the margin the requirement for housing to comprise 50% of all student accommodation units on sites greater than 0.25Ha. Access the detail of the review here: Scottish Government - DPEA - Document (scotland.gov.uk) Go to Issue 25 on Page 1385. (Issue 23 covers Affordable Housing; Issue 26 covers Housing Policy.) 

10 Apr: Reference: The Sunday Times (7 Apr) reported on the launch of a key report on how to reconcile projected continued expansion in aviation, airports as a driver of growth and job creation and decarbonisation towards net zero. The focus of the report, led by Duncan Maclennan (emeritus professor of urban economics at the University of Glasgow) looks at Edinburgh, a 'metropolitan economy' that must compete on a big stage and serve as a hub for central Scotland. The link to the report is here: Future flying: Up in the air? 

21 Mar: Reference: Planning Democracy and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (ARPS) recently concluded a series of webinars covering 'Scotland's Planning System / National Planning Framework 4 / Navigating Local Development Plans / Having a say in the future of your area'. View the series at: https://aprs.scot/event/joint-webinar-series/ . 

6 Feb: Reference: Our Future Streets - a circulation plan for Edinburgh; the far-reaching proposals intended to tie together the City Mobility Plan, 20-Minute Neighbourhoods and the drive to Net Zero 2030 among other objectives. The  submission on the Tramline Extension is here: Item 7.3 Tram from Granton to BioQuarter and Beyond Consultation for Strategic Business Case Develop.pdf (edinburgh.gov.uk) . (A 12-week consultation is proposed.) 

The wider Our Future Streets (OFS) documentation is in three parts, with the link to the first part here: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s66421/Item%207.2%20Our%20Future%20Streets%20-%20a%20circulation%20plan%20for%20Edinburgh_Part1.pdf

12 Jan 2024: Reference: How does your council work? The Governance function sits at the heart of it - who does what and how it should be done. Take a look at this Committee Best Practice Guidance paper (December 2023), tabled at the Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee on 28 November 2023*. Note the Executive Committee Structure (P7): Policy and Sustainability; Culture and Communities; Education, Children and Families; Finance and Resources; Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work; and Transport and Environment. *Item 8.4 Committee Best Practice Guidance.pdf (edinburgh.gov.uk) 

The wider Committee structure is set out here: Committee structure - Modern Council (edinburgh.gov.uk)